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LOT 3018
Desirable Winchester Special
Order Model 1886 Deluxe .50
Express Lever Action Rifle with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 63012,
50 express cal., 26 inch octagon bbl.,
blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. This Winchester Model 1886
is factory documented as a deluxe
rifle in rare, highly sought after 50
Express caliber. Deluxe Model 1886s
are rare. As a “working gun” customers
were not inclined to spend extra
money for special order features. Per
Winchester expert and author George
Madis, one of each 570 Model 1886s
had checkered or carved stock (“The Winchester Book,” page 354). As for the caliber, the
.50 Express cartridge was one of the most powerful commercial cartridges available at the time, and it quickly proved
popular with big and dangerous game hunters. Many Winchester rifles chambered for this powerful cartridge were
shipped to England and then found their way to Africa and India where they were often employed against big cats.
Demand for the cartridge in the United States was low however, and relatively few of these rifles were manufactured.
The Model 1886 in .50 Express was only produced in limited numbers, especially when compared to the smaller
calibers. Today Winchesters in .50 Express are highly sought after collectibles. Examples in any
condition are proving difficult to find.
The factory letter states the rifle was received in the warehouse on October 31, 1891, and shipped on November 3,
1891, to order number 13604 and confirms the octagon barrel in .50-110 caliber, set trigger,
and checkered pistol grip stock with shotgun butt. The full octagon barrel, full-length
magazine, bolt and loading gate have a blue finish. The forearm cap, frame, hammer and
loading lever are color casehardened. The rifle is fitted with a combination Beach front sight
and a Winchester Express rear sight with folding leaves graduated for 50, 100 and 200 yards.
The top barrel flat is marked with the two-line Winchester address ahead of the rear sight
and “50 EX” at the breech. The upper tang is marked “-MODEL 1886-.” The lower tang has the
two-line patent dates and the serial number. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly
figured, fancy grain walnut with Style “H” checkering and varnish finish. The pistol grip has
an ebony inlay. The left side of the lower tang is marked “375 XX S”. The assembly number
“375” is repeated on the stock inlet and buttplate. Deluxe Winchester Model 1886 rifles
chambered for .50 Express cartridges are rare and extremely desirable firearms.
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